Despite all the hate for this guy, I've always enjoyed the mix of R&B and hip hop he provides on his records. While I didn't love the single, 'Lonely', tracks like 'Locked Up' and 'Ghetto' are the stand-outs here and provide enjoyment years on. This lacks the consistency his next two albums have, but the best are among his greatest hits. Overall, I don't play the whole thing much these days but I still go back to a song or two every now and again. Best Tracks: Locked Up, Ghetto, Journey, Don't Let Up, Locked Up (Remix) *Written in 2010.

While I rate Ghostface Killah as a rapper, I've never been able to get thorough enjoyment from any of his albums, and after a number of spins of this new offering, the main problem I've had with some his previous projects is what I'm feeling with this as well. That is that the production from Adrian Younge is far too similar among the twelve songs. It's also not progressive at all, to me sounding like something from the '90s, and I feel like I've heard it before. Overall, this is probably a fair reflection of my feelings with many of the Wu artists - I dig the majority of the rapping but the beat selection has never thrilled me. Adrian Younge's influences for this album included Curtis Mayfield and Ennio Morricone. It reminds be very much of RZA's production style who was the executive producer for this album, and there is a bit of that Wu influence, but again, I don't think there is enough for it to stand out, nor do I think that hip hop hasn't done this kind of thing before with eerie beats. Fans of previous Ghostface projects will eat this up, but I feel like I'm almost hearing the same song twelve times. I expected something more unique after boning up about this prior to its release. 2.5-3 /5 Best Tracks: Beware of the Stare, Blood on the Cobblestones, The Center of Attraction, Murder Spree, The Sure Shot

I'm not a big enough fan of Common, nor, at the time of writing this, have I heard enough of his older material to be disgusted at him for going down this path like others are. Production wise, I enjoy most of the songs, which is a surprise given I haven't been a huge fan of The Neptunes lately who produce most of the tracks. Lyrically, it's unCommon like in parts, which brings it down a touch and there are no real outstanding tracks that I see myself going back to in a few months. Edit - I did go back to 'Everywhere'. 3-2.5 / 5. Like 1. Everywhere 2. Inhale 3. Announcement (feat. Pharrell) 4. Gladiator 5. Punch Drunk Love (feat. Kanye West) 6. Changes (feat. Muhsinah) Okay... 7. Make My Day (feat. Cee-Lo Green) 8. Intro/Universal Mind Control (UMC) (feat. Pharrell) Skip 9. What A World (feat. Chester French) 10. Sex 4 Sugar

Very solid debut LP from Blast, and while every track isn't great, most are quality, and since getting this LP, it hasn't been turned off. One of my favourite of 2006. Musically, while not really un-generic, it offers something different and tries to mix it up a bit in most tracks and the producers do a good job. Also, the tracks have been sequenced in an order where there is one really good track, and then an okay one, which helps with the enjoyment because there are never two average tracks in a row. Many people would probably call this generic c-rap, but if you are into southern hip hop and are more of the beat man than a lyrical one, this is worth checking out. 'Texas Keep It Trill' with the Scarface feature is dope. Best Tracks: Intro (Unexpected), Hood Rich, How We Ride, Texas Keep It Trill, Come To Chicago

At long last DMX returns. It has been six years since his previous album, which by many is considered to be his weakest. - I think it bangs though. There was lots of talk about his next album being a double release, titled 'Walk With Me Now and You'll Fly With Me Later', then changed to 'Redemption of the Beast' and now we are given Undisputed. DMX has always been one of my favourite artists since I got into the genre, so I was hoping that after many years out of the game, where he has faced a plethora of legal issues, that he could return with a bang. While I don't think X was ever hooked up with the greatest producers, it's his originality and never taking a backward step style that has led to him creating many fantastic hip hop songs, be them about struggle, violence or religion. My first problem with this album is that he has put a few songs on this that leaked years ago. 'What They Don't Know', 'Already' and 'Ya'll Don't Really Know' were on the unofficial 'Walk With Me Now (The Prequel)', and 'I Don't Dance' has been released as well in a slightly different version. I like many of these tracks, but most artists, knowing that songs have been on the internet for years, would have come up with some new songs. It's easy and common for the ageist hip hop community to say that an artist isn't as hungry or can't rap anymore just because some time has passed, when in reality not a lot has changed. This is the case for DMX, where vocally and lyrically I don't think X has changed much. He has maintained his deep gritty voice, the lyrics are the same sort of thing I mentioned earlier and on songs like 'Frankenstein' he shows that he hasn't lost step with a high tempo. Overall though, while I don't think the beats are bad, many of the beats don't seem as crisp as a hip hop legend like X deserves. Perhaps they don't sound like something from 2012... Overall, there is enough here to like. There is some classic emotional X with 'I Get Scared' and 'Slippin' Again', the obligatory prayer, and the harder anthems such as 'What They Don't Know' and 'Ya'll Don't Really Know' pretty much hit the spot. I expect this to receive a mixed reception but forgetting a handful of these songs have been heard before it's a solid comeback. 3.5-3/5 Best Tracks: What They Don't Know, I Get Scared, Slippin' Again, I'm Back, Have You Eva, Frankenstein, Ya'll Don't Really Know, I Got Your Back